BUIES CREEK — Campbell University’s School of Education recognized nearly 90 seniors majoring in education, psychology and social work who are about to begin their internship, field work or student teaching experiences during a commissioning service Friday that harped on the theme “The Power to Change the World.”
“You are well poised to fulfill what we hope you’ll fulfill, and that’s to illustrate and be a living example of this institution and our mission . . . to graduate young men and women who are prepared for purposeful lives and dedicated to meaningful services,” Campbell Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark L. Hammond said during the ceremony in Turner Auditorium. “As students in the School of Education, whether you’re in social work or psychology or you’re going to be a teacher, you’re going to exemplify that.”
The commissioning ceremony also included the presentation of Outstanding Student Awards to three seniors: Nicole Fitzgerald, social work; Rebecca Hughes, psychology; and Elizabeth Phillips, professional education.
Three alumnae were also honored with awards, including a posthumous Graduate of the Last Decade Alumna Award for Emerald Padilla, a 2009 Bachelor of Social Work graduate who died in a car accident in December 2011. A plaque bearing her name will hang in the School of Education’s offices in her memory.
The other alumnae recognized were Michelle Cline Restifo, with the School of Education’s Outstanding Alumna Award, and Wendy Harris, Ed.D., with the School of Education’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Restifo works in the Harnett County Schools’ Programs for Exceptional Children division, and Harris provides contracted behavioral health services to the military as an embedded counselor.
After receiving her award, Harris delivered the keynote address, encouraging the students to follow their passion and remember why they chose their career fields. “As you seek success, follow your passion in life. Always push forward and aim toward future goals. See yourself doing exactly what you dream of doing,” she said. “Remember the career field you have chosen — one of service. You have a rare and unique opportunity to help others in this life, and you will — many times, over many years.”
Short bios on the students and alumnae honored with awards Friday follows.
Student awards
Nicole Fitzgerald, Outstanding Student in Social Work
A native of Onslow County, North Carolina, Fitzgerald is the president of the Social Work Club, which sponsored the campus-wide Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November. She’s also active with the Wesleyan Fellowship and the Campus Activities Board. She serves as a social work intern in the child welfare programs with the Harnett County Department of Social Services. Her goal is to become a social worker in a county department of social services with an emphasis on working with children.
Rebecca Hughes, Outstanding Student in Psychology
Hughes began at Campbell as a biology pre-professional major before switching her major to psychology and minor to business administration. She has been a member of the Psychology Club, including serving as its president her junior year. This year she is chapter president of Psi Chi. She hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a Ph.D. in Social psychology after graduating from Campbell in May.
Elizabeth Phillips, Outstanding Student in Professional Education
Phillips is an elementary education major with an extension in middle grades education. She is on track to graduate in May with a 4.0 GPA. She’s the president of Campbell’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes and helped started the School of Education’s Peer Advisory Leadership program. She has also served as a resident advisor for two years, has been with an intern with Back2Back Ministries, and was treasurer of the Collegiate Middle Level Association in 2013-14. She’ll complete her student teaching experience at the STEM Academy in Moore County.
Alumnae Awards
Wendy Harris, Ed.D., Lifetime Achievement Award
Harris completed her Bachelor of Science in psychology in 1991 and her Master of Education in School Counseling in 1999 — both from Campbell. She began her career as a foster care/adoptions social worker and as a social worker for the Department of Aging. She later spent 14 years serving as a high school guidance counselor. She went on to open her own private practice and complete her Doctor of Education in counseling psychology with a concentration in counselor education and supervision from Argosy University in 2012. Since 2012 she has provided contracted behavioral health services as an embedded counselor to an elite group of military and their families. Recently, she was recognized by her company as the Third Quarter 2014 Director’s Award Winner for North Region.
Emerald Padilla, Graduate of the Last Decade Alumna Award (In memorium)
Padilla completed her Bachelor of Social Work from Campbell in 2009. During her senior year, she worked as an intern case worker in the local office of former U.S. Congressman Bob Etheridge. Following graduation, she was an AmeriCorps volunteer for two years. Her first assignment was to work with disadvantaged children in the New York City public schools. She spent her second year in Raleigh, North Carolina, working with the InterFaith Food Shuttle. She taught low-income people how to maintain healthy diets on a limited budget. Through her AmeriCorps experiences, she found her calling to be a community worker and organizer. She planned to begin graduate studies in social work in the fall of 2012, but was killed in a car accident in December 2011. A plaque bearing her name will hang in the School of Education’s offices in her memory.
Michelle Cline Restifo, Outstanding Alumna Award
Restifo began her public school career as a bus driver for the Harnett County Schools and then worked as teacher assistant for students with special needs. She eventually received her undergraduate degree in education from Campbell, graduating summa cum laude, and a graduate degree in school administration. She began her teaching career at Western Harnett High School and was named its Teacher of the Year in 2009. A year later, she was named the Harnett County Teacher of the Year and a Teacher of Excellence for Students’ with Disabilities by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Today, she works in the Harnett County Schools’ Programs for Exceptional Children division.
School of Education honors seniors who have “the power to change the world”